Read about the latest news, events and research from VicWater, and your colleagues around the Victorian water sector.
VicWater Update February 2024
Welcome to the new year and I hope it’s going well for you so far – hard to believe we’re already in February!
The VicWater team has returned to work refreshed and ready for the year ahead. To kick things off, in January we hosted a delegation from the Zhejiang Provincial Water Conservancy Science and Technology Promotion Service Centre in China.
In line with VicWater’s strategic priority to “promote the Victorian water sector”, this was a great opportunity for us to talk about how our Intelligent Water Networks (IWN) program is facilitating the adoption of innovative technologies, thinking and approaches in the sector. The Chinese delegation was particularly interested in the results of the optic fibre leak detection trial that IWN ran with Greater Western Water at the end of last year.
Caption: Delegation from the Zhejiang Provincial Water Conservancy Science and Technology Promotion Service Centre
Coming up this month we’re focused on supporting the non-executive director cohort in their sector governance and leadership role, through the Director Masterclass Program that we run in partnership with Monash Sustainable Development Institute and the Director Development Forum 2024 that we’re delivering in partnership with DEECA and Vic Catchments.
We’re also looking forward to the WIOA Victorian Conference in Bendigo at the end of the month, where I will be presenting the VicWater-sponsored Victorian Operator of the Year Award. Nominations for this prestigious award close this Friday 9 February, don’t miss the chance to join an honour roll that dates back to 1980!
This project has been renamed as the Victorian Water Industry Workforce Readiness Project. In December the working group met at Greater Western Water’s Training Academy in Melton. At this meeting the group had presentations from WaterRA on its Operator Competency Benchmarking Project, and NSW Department of Planning and Environment on its training and competency assessment project. The group also worked through the survey results and outlined next steps for the project.
I am really looking forward to 2024. Towards the end of last year, the VicWater committees that I support set themselves up to do some great things. We have a lot of opportunities for collaboration that really demonstrate the value of ‘better together’ including the upcoming planned cyber exercise for all of our members which we will be running this financial year.
The year started with our MDs Forum where we welcomed Cameron FitzGerald from Southern Rural Water as Chair to the Forum, replacing Maree Lang from Greater Western Water who had held the role for the previous two years. Maree did an excellent job and I look forward to working with Cameron across the next two years.
VicWater were so proud to support the 2024 Midsumma Pride March with the Pride in Water contingent last Sunday. It was great to see such a passionate group come together to celebrate inclusion, diversity and the beautiful LGBTQIA+ community.
The water industry is dedicated to ensuring that everyone can go to work being themselves and are supported in a safe and inclusive environment, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Director Development events for 2024
Don't miss out if you haven't already registered for these two director development events taking place this month!
Director Masterclass Program 2024
Masterclass 1: Contemporary ways of thinking: sector governance and leadership
Day 1: 21 February 2024 12:30pm – 9:00pm (includes dinner) Day 2: 22 February 2024 9:00am – 1:30pm Venue: Sofitel on Collins, 25 Collins St, Melbourne Cost: $1,800 per person (ex GST)
Check out the program and register below for the upcoming 2024 WIOA Victorian Conference and Exhibition taking place later this month on 28 & 29 February.
Whether you've recently left school or arrived from overseas, there are a few important things you might not know when you start your first job. We've put together some helpful tips to understand things like your pay slips and taxes so you can make sure you're looked after.
The first “silo artwork” in the Colac Otway Shire has been completed on the Cressy water tower, thanks to a partnership between Barwon Water and the Cressy & District History Group.
The project was the initiative of the Cressy & District History Group, with the intent of showcase the local history of the area at the same time as creating a tourist attraction.
Records flow from Warrnambool's roof water harvesting system
Wannon Water’s innovative roof water harvesting system proved its worth on Sunday when it set a new record following intense rain.
Branch Manager Asset Planning Peter Wilson said peak inflows of 331 litres a second were recorded from across the system at around 5pm.
“During the eight hours from 4pm to midnight, we harvested 2.5 million litres of water which is enough to supply 17 houses for an entire year,” Mr Wilson said.
Do you have a water sector event you'd like to promote? Maybe an announcement you'd like us to share on behalf of your organisation? VicWater Update has opened the news and events section of the monthly update to promote visibility of things that are happening within the water sector.
If you'd like something included email Lauren Vines with your request for consideration in our next edition.
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